3 But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people).
4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].
5 For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience.
7 So do not associate or be sharers with them.
Wow, there seems to be a ton of responsibility placed on us here with these verses doesn’t there? Let me ask you some questions, how do we define wasteful living? Is having a television wasteful? How about a garbage disposal? What about a computer or two coats? What if we want to be promoted and have our bosses job, is that being greedy? What if you look at another person and think to yourself that they are pretty, is that sexual vice? What if you talk about a football game, is that silly talking? We have learned the Truth and the Truth is that our yoke is easy and our burden is light, right? So all of these obligations have to be easy to live, even if we live in the Western world where having just a little is more than 98% of what the world has.
Our peace, and it does pass all understanding, is that the Truth sets us free and the Truth is easy. The Truth and our peace is that we can’t do any or keep any of these things in verses 3-7. We can’t! Think about it, God told the children of Israel to keep one day holy and they couldn’t even do that. Jesus knows this, so what did He do for us? The first thing that He did was eliminate the law for us. The Truth is that there is now no law in place to assign us guilt, in Christ there is no law for us to transgress. We now live in the freedom that Jesus lives in.
Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. Colossians 2:14
Our Father has made us all to be disobedient and He did it so that He may have mercy on us all alike, Romans 11:32. It is only when our Father enlightens us with the Truth that He will keep us from all of these things, Ezekiel 36:27, and that there is no condemnation for us, Romans 8:1, that we will actually stop doing these things. We are able to relax and have peace because it is up to our Father to bring our sanctification to pass, it is not up to us.
For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; Hebrews 2:11
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